What Smith & Howard does

Smith + Howard is a tax, accounting, and advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, founded in 1971. The firm serves privately held businesses, nonprofits, national and global businesses, private equity and portfolio companies, and high-net-worth individuals across all 50 U.S. states and internationally via an alliance network spanning 164 countries. Its service portfolio spans Accounting, Assurance (including financial statement audits and SOC 1/2/3 reporting), Advisory (internal audit outsourcing, litigation support, process automation), Cyber Risk Management (including ANAB-accredited ISO 27001 certification services and readiness for NIST CSF, HIPAA, and CMMC), Finance Consulting and Human Capital Consulting (powered by a strategic partnership with Fahrenheit Advisors), Tax (business tax, private client tax, international tax, transfer pricing, R&D credits, and tax credits and incentives), and Transaction Advisory (financial due diligence and tax structuring for M&A).

The firm operates under an alternative practice structure through Smith & Howard PC (licensed CPA entity) and Smith & Howard Advisory LLC (tax and consulting entity), with a registered "Smith + Howard" / "Smith & Howard" brand, a wealth management subsidiary (S+HWM), and a finance consulting arm (S+H Consulting). Technology stack is anchored by a proprietary state-by-state tax automation platform that reports and tracks indirect tax collections and compliance in real time, alongside Microsoft Power BI dashboards that provide customizable financial and operational analytics. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; engagements are scoped per RFP, with a secure client portal handling ACH and credit card payments post-engagement.

The firm has pursued an aggressive inorganic growth strategy since 2022, when Broad Sky Partners made its first institutional investment; subsequent acquisitions include VIP Search Group and VIP Solutions Group (April 2024), Smith, Kesler & Company (January 2025), Horton, Lee, Burnett, Peacock, Cleveland & Grainger (September 2025), and Bauknight Pietras & Stormer (January 2026). As of June 2026, the firm has signed a definitive agreement for a significant TPG Growth investment to fund national expansion, technology modernization, and AI integration, with Broad Sky Partners exiting as part of the transaction (closing expected Q3 2026). Reported scale metrics include 4,000+ tax clients served globally, 99% average client retention, and a Top 83 ranking on INSIDE Public Accounting's 2026 Top 500 list.

Name

Smith & Howard

Legal name

Smith & Howard

Website

https://smith-howard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Smith + Howard is an Atlanta-based tax, accounting, and advisory firm serving privately held businesses, nonprofits, national/global businesses, private equity-backed companies, and high-net-worth individuals across all 50 U.S. states with audit, tax, advisory, transaction advisory, and ANAB-accredited ISO 27001 certification services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accounting and Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Litigation Support & Expert Witness (Valuation-Related) (BPAHANAG), Industry-Specialist / Sector-Focused M&A Advisory (FSAEAGAJ), Business Owner & Executive Financial Planning (FSAEAAAO)

Keywords

• Tax compliance services
• Audit assurance services
• Transaction advisory
• Cyber risk management
• Accounting advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tax Services: Core revenue stream including business tax planning, compliance, international tax, multistate tax, tax credits and incentives, R&D tax credits, transfer pricing, and tax controversy representation for businesses and private clients.
2. Assurance and Audit Services: Audit, review, and compilation engagements; employee benefit plan audits; SOC reporting (SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3, SOC for Cybersecurity); providing the highest level of assurance on financial statements.
3. Advisory Services: Internal audit outsourcing, litigation support, process automation and improvement, cyber risk management, and management consulting services.
4. Finance Consulting: Financial planning and analysis, analytics and data visualization, fractional and interim finance leadership (CFOs, Controllers), finance transformation, treasury management, and risk and compliance advisory. Powered by Fahrenheit Advisors.
5. Human Capital Consulting: Fractional HR leadership, talent development, talent management, HR management, compensation and benefits consulting, and culture and belonging programs. Powered by Fahrenheit Advisors.
6. Transaction Advisory: Financial due diligence, tax transaction advisory services, quality of earnings, purchase agreement review, and post-transaction tax services for buy-side and sell-side transactions.
7. Wealth Management / Private Client Services: Personal financial planning, estate and gift tax planning, charitable giving strategies, family office services, and tax planning and compliance for high-net-worth individuals. Delivered through Smith + Howard Wealth Management.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Smith + Howard is a tax, accounting, and advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta that delivers integrated professional services including business and private client tax planning/compliance, financial statement audits, SOC reporting, transaction due diligence, internal audit outsourcing, cyber risk management and ANAB-accredited ISO 27001 certification, finance consulting (fractional CFO/Controller), human capital consulting, and wealth management for high-net-worth individuals.

Product overview

Smith + Howard is a tax, accounting, and advisory firm offering a comprehensive suite of professional services organized into core service lines: Accounting, Assurance, Advisory, Cyber Risk Management + Compliance, Finance Consulting (powered by Fahrenheit Advisors), Human Capital Consulting (powered by Fahrenheit Advisors), Tax, and Transaction Advisory. The Tax Services division encompasses Business Tax (including international tax, R&D credits, transfer pricing, site selection incentives), Private Client Tax Services (including estate planning, charitable giving), and Tax Credits and Incentives. Assurance Services include Audit Services and SOC Reporting. Advisory Services cover Internal Audit, Litigation Support, and Process Automation. The firm serves privately held businesses, nonprofits, national businesses, and global operations across industries including construction, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, insurance, and captive insurance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• S+H Consulting: Finance and financial consulting services offered through Fahrenheit Advisors partnership
• S+HWM (Smith and Howard Wealth Management)

Products and services

• Accounting Services Comprehensive accounting services including on-site accounting, accounting software consulting, controllership services, financial statement preparation, and monthly/quarterly reviews for businesses.
• Assurance Services Audit, review, and compilation engagements; employee benefit plan audits; and SOC reporting (SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3, SOC for Cybersecurity) providing the highest level of CPA assurance on financial statements.
• Advisory Services Strategic advisory including internal audit outsourcing, litigation support and expert testimony, process automation/improvement, and management consulting to deliver operational insights.
• Cyber Risk Management + Compliance Cybersecurity risk management and compliance services including cyber risk assessments, ANAB-accredited ISO 27001 certification, and alignment with NIST CSF, HIPAA, CMMC, NIST 800-53/171 frameworks.
• Finance Consulting Strategic finance consulting powered by Fahrenheit Advisors and S+H Consulting, including financial planning and analysis, Power BI analytics dashboards, fractional and interim finance leadership (CFOs, Controllers), and finance transformation.
• Human Capital Consulting Human capital advisory powered by Fahrenheit Advisors, offering fractional HR leadership, talent development, talent management, HR management, compensation and benefits consulting, and culture and belonging programs.
• Tax Services Business tax, private client tax, and indirect tax services including planning, compliance, controversy resolution, international tax, multistate tax, R&D credits, transfer pricing, and tax credits and incentives.
• Transaction Advisory Services Buy-side and sell-side financial due diligence, tax structuring for transactions, quality of earnings reviews, purchase agreement review, and post-transaction tax integration services.
• Private Client Tax Services Tax planning and compliance for high-net-worth individuals including estate and gift tax planning, charitable giving strategies, family office services, and personal financial planning, delivered through Smith + Howard Wealth Management.
• ISO 27001 Certification Services ANAB-accredited ISO 27001 certification audits including Stage 1 gap analysis, Stage 2 certification audits, surveillance audits, and recertification audits for organizations' Information Security Management Systems (ISMS).

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% average client retention rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Fahrenheit AdvisorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmith + Howard's Finance Consulting and Human Capital Consulting service lines are powered by Fahrenheit Advisors. This partnership enables the firm to offer fractional CFO/Controller services, financial planning and analysis, HR leadership, talent development, and organizational consulting as an integrated offering within the Smith + Howard platform.
• S+H ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmith + Howard's Finance Consulting team is also powered by S+H Consulting, providing specialized finance and consulting expertise within the firm's integrated service model.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aprio LLP: Top-30 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with comparable mid-market tax, audit, advisory, and outsourced CFO services; PE-backed and pursuing aggressive M&A growth.
• Withum: Top-25 U.S. accounting and advisory firm serving privately held businesses, nonprofits, and PE portfolio companies with tax, audit, advisory, and technology services.
• Plante Moran: Top-15 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with strong middle-market focus, comparable tax, audit, advisory, and consulting service lines, and similar industry specialization.
• Wipfli LLP: Top-20 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with comparable mid-market tax, audit, advisory, and outsourced CFO/finance services. Similar geographic expansion through M&A and a parallel PE-backed growth strategy.
• Eide Bailly LLP: Top-25 U.S. accounting and advisory firm serving middle-market businesses, nonprofits, and high-net-worth individuals with comparable tax, audit, advisory, and wealth management services.
• Baker Tilly US: Top-15 U.S. accounting and advisory firm offering tax, audit, advisory, and consulting to middle-market and PE-backed companies. Direct overlap on industry verticals, service breadth, and client profile.
• Cherry Bekaert: Top-30 U.S. accounting and advisory firm serving privately held businesses, nonprofits, and PE portfolio companies with tax, audit, advisory, and risk services. Highly comparable mid-market positioning, service mix, and target customer profile to Smith + Howard.
• FORVIS: Top-10 U.S. accounting firm formed from the BKD/Dixon Hughes Goodman merger, backed by New Mountain Capital. Closely comparable on mid-market focus, multi-service platform, and PE-backed scaling playbook.

Broad incumbents

• BDO USA: Top-5 global accounting and advisory network with extensive mid-market and PE coverage. Larger and broader than Smith + Howard, but competes directly for the same middle-market tax, audit, and advisory engagements.
• RSM US: Top-5 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with strong middle-market focus, particularly serving PE portfolio companies. Larger and broader than Smith + Howard, but competes directly across tax, audit, transaction advisory, and consulting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzXjC6g5x8V5e6Q6
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smith-howard
• Facebookfacebook.com/SmithHowardCPA
• Xx.com/smithandhoward

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smith & Howard